Fibre Optic Outside Plant Installation Course Level 3
The Fibre Optic Outside Plant Telecom Installation Course Level 3 is a practical programme for engineers and technicians working on external single-mode fibre networks used in telecommunications, FTTP and broadband infrastructure. Delegates develop hands-on competence in underground and overhead fibre installation, cable preparation, fusion splicing, closures, subscriber nodes, PON infrastructure, testing and fault finding. Training is delivered at our specialist centre in Crewe, Cheshire, using realistic outside plant infrastructure and professional fibre test equipment.
The Fibre Optic Outside Plant Installation Course Level 3 provides comprehensive practical training in the deployment of fibre optic networks across outside plant telecommunications infrastructure. Delegates develop the skills required to install, prepare, joint, splice, terminate and test fibre across external network environments.
Training covers the full network route, from exchange and aggregation infrastructure through primary and secondary distribution points to the access network and final customer connection. Delegates work with underground ducts, chambers, telegraph poles, fibre closures and external distribution infrastructure.
The course is delivered at our specialist training centre in Crewe, Cheshire, using realistic outside plant infrastructure including underground chambers, ducts, telegraph poles and simulated exchange and FTTP network environments. This allows delegates to practise installation and testing techniques in conditions that reflect real fibre deployment projects.
The programme focuses on building practical competence in fibre installation, cable preparation, jointing, fusion splicing, termination, testing and outside plant network construction from the exchange through to the customer’s final connection.
About this course:
The Fibre Optic Outside Plant Telecom Installation Course Level 3 is designed to develop the practical and technical skills required to install, joint, terminate, test and commission fibre optic networks used in outside plant telecommunications infrastructure.
The programme combines technical instruction with extensive hands-on training across single-mode fibre systems, with particular emphasis on the external network environments used in broadband, FTTP and telecommunications deployment.
Delegates learn the correct techniques for preparing and terminating fibre optic cable, carrying out fusion splicing, working with fibre closures and external distribution hardware, and verifying installed links using professional test equipment.
The course also introduces the structure and terminology used across modern telecom access networks, including conventional point-to-point infrastructure and Passive Optical Networks (PON). This helps delegates understand how fibre is distributed through exchanges, aggregation points, primary and secondary nodes, access networks and final customer connections.
Practical training includes:
✓ Outside plant fibre cable preparation
✓ Fibre installation in underground and overhead environments
✓ Working with ducts, chambers and external network routes
✓ Fibre jointing and closure preparation
✓ Fusion splicing techniques
✓ Fibre termination and external distribution hardware
✓ Single-mode fibre systems
✓ Fibre testing and network verification
✓ Identifying common installation faults
✓ Understanding optical loss and link performance
✓ Passive Optical Network (PON) principles
✓ FTTP and telecom access-network terminology and architecture
✓ Network build quality and installation standards
✓ Recording test results and preparing networks for commissioning and handover
Training is delivered in our purpose-built facility in Crewe using realistic outside plant infrastructure, including underground chambers, ducts, telegraph poles, fibre closures, distribution hardware and simulated network equipment. This allows delegates to develop practical skills in an environment that reflects the types of conditions encountered during live fibre network deployment.
The programme has been developed with industry requirements in mind and is intended to prepare delegates for practical roles in fibre deployment, FTTP installation, outside plant installation, network construction, fusion splicing, testing and telecommunications infrastructure.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the Fibre Optic Outside Plant Telecom Installation Course Level 3, delegates will have developed the knowledge and practical competence required to install, joint, splice, terminate, test and prepare outside plant fibre networks for commissioning and handover.
Delegates should be able to:
✓ Build and configure aggregation and primary fibre network nodes
✓ Create and manage loop joints within outside plant fibre networks
✓ Install aerial subscriber nodes (ASN) and underground subscriber nodes (USN)
✓ Install connectorised block terminals (CBTs)
✓ Install primary and secondary splitter nodes
✓ Read and interpret fibre network diagrams and network topologies
✓ Understand Passive Optical Network architecture and splitter ratios
✓ Test optical splitters and verify network connectivity
✓ Carry out fibre cable preparation, fusion splicing and termination
✓ Understand PON, GPON and XGS-PON deployment principles
✓ Interpret fibre network configurations, FNCs and splicing diagrams
✓ Carry out optical testing to confirm network continuity and performance
✓ Identify and locate common fibre network faults
✓ Apply correct installation methods across underground and overhead outside plant environments
✓ Understand how exchange, aggregation, distribution and access network infrastructure work together
✓ Prepare completed fibre links for testing, commissioning and handover
Suitable for:
This course is designed for new entrants, fibre installers, telecommunications engineers and network professionals who want to develop practical Level 3 competence in outside plant fibre deployment, splicing, testing and PON infrastructure.
This course is suitable for:
✓ New entrants looking to begin a career in fibre optic telecommunications
✓ Existing fibre installers who want to develop Level 3 outside plant competence
✓ Telecommunications technicians working on broadband and fibre network deployment
✓ FTTP and fibre access-network engineers
✓ Engineers involved in underground or overhead fibre installation
✓ Fibre splicing and jointing technicians
✓ Network build and commissioning technicians
✓ Contractors working on FTTP and PON infrastructure
✓ Engineers working with alternative network providers (Altnets) and telecommunications infrastructure companies
✓ Delegates who want practical experience of ducts, chambers, poles, subscriber nodes, splitter infrastructure and external fibre distribution
✓ Learners who want to achieve the Open Awards Level 3 Award in Fibre Optics Installation and Testing through an outside-plant-focused programme
Course modules:
The Fibre Optic Outside Plant Telecom Installation Course Level 3 combines technical knowledge with extensive practical training across the construction, installation, splicing, testing and verification of outside plant fibre networks.
Outside Plant Network Architecture
✓ Understanding fibre telecommunications network architecture
✓ Exchange, aggregation and access network infrastructure
✓ Primary and secondary network nodes
✓ Fibre distribution through outside plant networks
✓ Reading network diagrams and network topologies
✓ Understanding fibre network configurations (FNCs)
✓ Reading and interpreting splicing diagrams
Underground Fibre Installation
✓ Understanding underground fibre network routes
✓ Working with ducts and underground chambers
✓ Fibre cable preparation for external installation
✓ Installing underground subscriber nodes (USNs)
✓ Cable routing and management within chambers
✓ Joint positioning and fibre management
✓ Applying safe working practices around outside plant infrastructure
Overhead Fibre Installation
✓ Understanding overhead fibre distribution networks
✓ Fibre installation across pole routes
✓ Installing aerial subscriber nodes (ASNs)
✓ Installing connectorised block terminals (CBTs)
✓ Managing fibre cable and connectivity on overhead infrastructure
✓ Understanding the relationship between overhead distribution infrastructure and customer drops
Fibre Jointing and Fusion Splicing
✓ Outside plant fibre cable preparation
✓ Fusion splicing techniques
✓ Creating and managing loop joints
✓ Fibre management within closures and jointing enclosures
✓ Splice protection and organisation
✓ Fibre termination
✓ Identifying and correcting common splicing faults
Passive Optical Networks
✓ Passive Optical Network (PON) principles
✓ GPON architecture
✓ XGS-PON architecture
✓ Optical splitter principles and splitter ratios
✓ Installing primary and secondary splitter nodes
✓ Testing optical splitters and verifying connectivity
✓ Understanding how passive components and splitter stages affect optical power levels
Testing and Fault Finding
✓ Carrying out basic optical fibre testing
✓ Checking network continuity
✓ Verifying installed fibre links
✓ Identifying excessive loss and installation defects
✓ Locating common outside plant fibre faults
✓ Understanding test results in relation to network design and expected performance
✓ Preparing completed fibre links for commissioning
Network Build and Commissioning
✓ Building aggregation and primary fibre network nodes
✓ Installing subscriber distribution infrastructure
✓ Following fibre routing, FNC and splicing documentation
✓ Completing network-build activities to professional installation standards
✓ Recording installation and test information
✓ Preparing network infrastructure for commissioning and handover
Qualification
Successful completion of the required knowledge-based and practical assessment activities leads to the Open Awards Level 3 Award in Fibre Optics Installation and Testing.
This is the same Level 3 qualification achieved through our Fibre Optics Installation Level 3 course, but this programme is specifically focused on outside plant telecommunications networks, including underground and overhead deployment, fibre nodes, closures, splitter infrastructure, PON networks and external single-mode fibre distribution.
Certification Information:
On successful completion of the required knowledge-based and practical assessments, delegates achieve the Open Awards Level 3 Award in Fibre Optics Installation and Testing.
Assessment is completed through a combination of written knowledge assessment and practical activities designed to demonstrate competence in fibre cable preparation, fusion splicing, termination, installation and testing.
This is the same Level 3 qualification achieved through our Fibre Optics Installation Level 3 course, but this programme is delivered with a specific focus on outside plant telecommunications infrastructure, including underground and overhead fibre deployment, external joints and closures, subscriber nodes, splitter infrastructure, Passive Optical Networks and network commissioning.
Delegates must successfully complete all required assessment activities to achieve the qualification.
Entry Requirements
No formal prerequisite qualification is required to enrol on this course.
Previous knowledge or experience of telecommunications or fibre network installation can be helpful but is not essential. Delegates who already hold Smart Awards SA001 Overhead Safety and/or SA002 Underground Safety may find this useful when progressing into practical outside plant network activities, but these qualifications are not prerequisites for the Level 3 course.
The programme is suitable for new entrants, existing fibre installers and telecommunications technicians who want to develop Level 3 competence with a specific focus on outside plant fibre networks.
Delegates should be comfortable with practical, hands-on technical work and be prepared to complete both knowledge-based and practical assessment activities.
Career Progression:
Completing the Fibre Optic Outside Plant Telecom Installation Course Level 3 can support progression into practical roles across FTTP deployment, outside plant fibre construction, network installation, fusion splicing, testing, commissioning and telecommunications engineering.
The programme develops competence in single-mode fibre installation, underground and overhead deployment, jointing, fusion splicing, subscriber distribution infrastructure, PON networks, testing and fault identification, providing a strong foundation for roles such as:
✓ Fibre Optic Splicing Engineer
✓ Outside Plant Fibre Installation Engineer
✓ FTTP Installation Engineer
✓ Fibre Network Testing Engineer
✓ Fibre Jointing Technician
✓ Fibre Network Build Technician
✓ Broadband Installation Engineer
✓ Telecommunications Installation Engineer
✓ Fibre Fault-Finding Technician
✓ Telecommunications Network Engineer
Further progression can include Advanced Fibre Optic Fault Finding & OTDR Testing, Fibre Optic Network Planning & Design and more advanced fibre testing, commissioning and network-engineering responsibilities.
Price:
£1050.00 + VAT
Duration:
5 Days
Frequently Asked Questions
What is meant by “Outside Plant” in fibre optic networks?
Outside Plant (OSP) refers to fibre optic infrastructure installed outside buildings and across the external telecommunications network. This can include ducts, underground chambers, telegraph poles, fibre closures, splitter nodes, distribution points and subscriber connection points linking the wider network to homes and businesses.
What types of fibre networks will I learn about during the course?
The course covers modern single-mode fibre access networks used in telecommunications and broadband deployment, including Passive Optical Networks (PON), GPON and XGS-PON. Delegates also learn how fibre infrastructure connects exchanges, aggregation points, primary and secondary nodes, splitter infrastructure and final subscriber connections.
Will I gain experience with both underground and overhead fibre deployment?
Yes. The programme includes practical training across both underground and overhead outside plant infrastructure. Delegates develop an understanding of fibre deployment through ducts and chambers as well as external distribution using telegraph poles and aerial network components.
What practical installation skills will I develop?
Training includes fibre cable preparation, fusion splicing, fibre termination, loop joints, fibre closures, subscriber nodes, connectorised block terminals, primary and secondary splitter nodes, optical splitter testing, network diagrams and basic fault finding.
Does the course cover PON, GPON and XGS-PON networks?
Yes. Delegates develop an understanding of Passive Optical Network architecture, including PON, GPON and XGS-PON, splitter ratios, network distribution and the role of passive optical components within modern fibre broadband infrastructure.
Is this course focused on single-mode fibre?
Yes. This course is focused on single-mode fibre systems used in outside plant telecommunications, FTTP, broadband access and PON networks.
What qualification will I achieve?
Successful learners achieve the Open Awards Level 3 Award in Fibre Optics Installation and Testing.
This is the same Level 3 qualification achieved through our Fibre Optics Installation Level 3 course, but this programme is specifically delivered around outside plant telecommunications network installation and deployment.
Is previous telecoms experience required?
No formal prerequisite qualification is required. Previous telecommunications or fibre installation knowledge can be helpful, but it is not essential. Delegates who already hold Smart Awards SA001 and/or SA002 may find these useful when progressing into practical outside plant activities, but they are not prerequisites for the Level 3 course.
Is the course suitable for new entrants?
Yes. The course is suitable for new entrants as well as experienced fibre and telecommunications engineers who want to develop practical Level 3 competence in outside plant fibre installation.
Can this course help me move into fibre network installation roles?
Yes. The programme develops practical skills relevant to fibre deployment, FTTP installation, outside plant construction, fibre jointing, fusion splicing, testing and network commissioning. It can support progression into roles with telecommunications contractors, fibre infrastructure providers, broadband operators and alternative network providers.
Does the course cover fibre testing and fault finding?
Yes. Delegates learn how to carry out basic optical testing, verify installed fibre links, identify excessive loss and installation defects, locate common fibre network faults and prepare completed links for commissioning and handover.
Does the course cover fibre joints, closures and splitter nodes?
Yes. Practical training includes fibre jointing, loop joints, closure preparation, fibre management, primary and secondary splitter nodes and subscriber distribution infrastructure used within outside plant fibre networks.
Where does the training take place?
Training takes place at our specialist fibre optic training centre in Crewe, Cheshire. Delegates work with realistic outside plant infrastructure including underground ducts and chambers, telegraph poles, fibre closures, distribution equipment and simulated network infrastructure.
Is the training practical?
Yes. The course has a strong hands-on focus. Delegates carry out fibre preparation, fusion splicing, jointing, installation, testing and network-build exercises using realistic outside plant infrastructure.